Additive Manufacturing

Fraunhofer „futureAM“ is expected to speed up „additive manufacturing“ by a factor ten

Photo: Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed innovative methods enabling more materials to be processed in additive manufacturing than ever before. For example, additive manufacturing systems could facilitate better future aircraft engines with lower fuel consumption. However, engineers must first improve the current industrial 3D printers in such a way that these machines can also process very strong and extremely heat-resistant alloys. Here, the Dresden researchers rely on their profound experience with laser powder buildup welding technologies and employ artificial intelligence (AI). They contribute their profound materials expertise to the Fraunhofer joint project „futureAM“. The aim of the partners is to speed up additive manufacturing systems for metal components by a factor ten and also to manage superalloys.

Fraunhofer IWS engineers have refined laser powder buildup welding over decades in order to allow more materials to be applied in additive manufacturing. In this procedure, a system feeds various filler powders into a process zone. There, a laser melts the powder and deposits it on a workpiece surface. As a result, the desired part is generated in a layer by layer process. „One of the advantages of this additive procedure is that we can adapt the process very flexibly to the requirements of high- performance materials,“ explains Fraunhofer IWS project administrator Michael Müller. In this way it is also possible, for example, to print nickel-based alloys that are difficult to weld and process using traditional methods. However, this only works if the temperature, powders, feed rate and other parameters are correct. „We have to adjust all the set screws precisely,“ explains Michael Müller. „This is the only way we can find the right recipe.“ Within the framework of the Fraunhofer lighthouse project „futureAM - Next Generation Additive Manufacturing“, IWS engineers are recording numerous sensor data with very high sampling rates for this purpose. However, this generates large amounts of data („big data“) that are difficult for people to understand.

AI learns to decideNevertheless, Fraunhofer experts use advanced methods of „artificial intelligence“ (AI) and „machine learning“, which are also researched under the catchword „Big Data“ in a working group led by Prof. Karol Kozak, Head of Image Processing and Data Management at Fraunhofer IWS, to find hidden connections in these signal floods. For example, special analysis algorithms link the measured sensor values with the institute‘s powder database and evaluate further process parameters. Gradually, the machines learn to make their own decisions. For example, they can determine for themselves whether a slight rise in temperature in the welding process can be tolerated or whether they have to take immediate countermeasures before the entire component ends up as waste. „Industry is looking for ever more and ever different materials which are, however, often difficult to process,“ emphasizes Prof. Frank Brückner, Business Unit Manager Generation and Printing at Fraunhofer IWS.

Photo: Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

Better aircraft engines in sightThe aircraft engines mentioned above are examples illustrating precisely this prospect: they could work more efficiently and at higher temperatures if most materials were not already failing at temperatures of around 1200 degrees. Admittedly, there are materials that can withstand such high temperatures, but they are very cost-intensive and difficult to process using traditional methods. Additive manufacturing is intended to solve this dilemma. Moreover, it could help to achieve a more cost-effective design: „Using laser powder buildup welding, we can feed different powders into the process zone simultaneously or successively with precisely adjustable feed rates,“ explains Michael Müller. Designing an entire component out of a singular material is not very effective since the component is not exposed to the same heat at all points.“ Preferably, the expensive, highly resistant material should only be used where it gets really hot,“ says Michael Müller. „In other areas, a less expensive material will be sufficient.“ This is precisely what can be achieved with additive manufacturing systems – once they have learned to process the required superalloy. „The next step is to combine various high-performance materials within a single component,“ announces project administrator Müller. In the „futureAM“ joint project, the IWS and five other Fraunhofer Institutes are pooling this technology and further expertise to push additive manufacturing to a new level. By summer 2020, they want to integrate all their expertise into the additive manufacturing process chain and demonstrate it on realistic components.